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Published on: June 11, 2015
The von Willebrand factor-binding protein (vWbp) of Staphylococcus aureus is a coagulase
Joakim Bjerketorp1, Karin Jacobsson, Lars Frykberg
1Department of Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Box 7025, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract:
Staphylococcus aureus encodes a secreted von Willebrand factor-binding protein (vWbp) of 482 amino acids. The N-terminal part of this protein is homologous to staphylocoagulase and therefore we investigated whether vWbp has coagulating activity. Recombinant vWbp was shown to coagulate human and porcine plasma efficiently, but was less active against plasma from other species. The coagulation efficiency was concentration dependent, and could be inhibited by specific antibodies against vWbp. Furthermore, the species-specific coagulation by vWbp depended on the interaction with prothrombin. This interaction also resulted in specific cleavage of vWbp, releasing the C-terminal part from the coagulating domain.
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